On Tuesday the 19th of May, a primary election took place where tens of thousands of Philadelphians showed up to vote. Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District was a highly competitive seat--at one point boasting eleven individual candidates. In the end, the ballot was down to four names:

Dr. Ala Stanford
State Sen. Sharif Street
State Rep. Chris Rabb
& a fourth minor candidate.

A crowded ballot like this all but guarantees that no candidate receives a true mandate. Several states combat that by implementing what is known as a runoff, where the top two individuals go on to a second round primary to ensure that voters get fair representation. Some experts argue that runoffs are a waste of resources that candidates should be using for the general election.

Here’s the thing, though--in Philadelphia the primary is the election. The city needs runoffs. Regardless of whether you support Chris Rabb, the belief that no one must ever again proceed to Congress with only forty-four percent of the vote should be a unanimity. What this election told us is not that the people of Philadelphia support democratic socialism--it’s that we have a serious problem.

Had the vote not been split, the establishment would have won. Philadelphians are not being represented the way the majority (55.5%) voted. We deserve representation. We do not have to settle for what we didn’t choose. There is one decision we have to make and that is how we are going move forward. This is not about who won--its about whether anyone won.

No matter who you voted for, you voted because you believe we can be better. I urge you to keep that belief and use it to advocate for runoff legislation. Call your State Representatives. Talk to your neighbors. Demand that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania be represented by candidates who secure the mandate.